Diaphragm strip for film printing



6 D U I4 0 0 SEARCH ROOM AP?11 T8, T950 A. v. c. DEBRIE 2,504,813

DIAPHRAGM STRIP FOR FILM PRINTING qua no 0910130 0 FIGS 0 n u an 005mm n FIGA Filed Aug. 31, 1945 FIG.1

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Patented Apr. 18, 1950 SEARCH ROOM DIAPHRAGM STRIP FOR FILM PRINTING Andre Victor Lon Clment Debrie, Paris, France Application August 31, 1945, Serial No. 613,939 In France February 5, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires February 5, 1963 2 Claims. (CI. 95-75) It is known in printing machines for kinematographic films to provide for a variation in the light used for printing by means of an opaque screen provided with diaphragm forming holes adapted to move in front of a stationary luminous source. Generally this screen assumes the shape of a strip unwinding between the source of light and the printin gate.

Now this arrangement as used to-day is not without certain drawbacks. On one hand in fact it requires the use of a special punching machine for punching the holes; on the other hand, and this is more serious, if it is desired to modify subsequently and in any desired manner a single diaphragm, it is necessary to overhaul entirely the whole strip.

My present invention has for its object an improvement in this strip arrangement which allows avoiding the above mentioned drawbacks. According to said invention, my improved arrangement is constituted by a strip showing at the desired locations transparent portions which are covered by small opaque plates of malleable metal, plastic material or the like suitable material, said plates being removably secured and hooked on to the strip through any known means such for instance as teeth engaging the perforations of the strip without permanently closing same and the engaged part of which is folded on the opposite face of the strip. These plates are in their turn provided with holes suiting the result sought for.

The execution of this arrangement may be executed in various diiferent manners. Thus the supporting strip may be transparent at the desired locations either by reason of its constitution or because it is provided at these points with large sized holes. As to the plates, they may include calibrated holes the diameter of which corresponds to the desired light intensities; or all include uniformly sized holes to be provided with neutral screens the opacities of which vary according to the desired light intensity; both these means for obtaining the variation in light intensity are known per se. Lastly for special applications such as the printing of colored films, I provide for the use on the plates of colored screens associated or not with the neutral screens.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my diaphragm strip the material of which is of transparent or translucid material,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of my diaphragm strip of opaque material with apertures,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 the apertures of the plates being provided with screens of variable density,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 the apertures of the plates being provided with screens of variable density.

In the form of execution of Flg. 1, the strip I shows throughout its length a transparent or roughed translucid surface. It carries at the required locations small opaque plates 2 (Orin!!! removable covers hooked inside the perforations 3 of the strip. These plates 2 are provided each with a diaphragm forming hole 4, the diameter 01. each of these holes corresponding to a desired light intensity.

It is easy to see that with this arrangement, it is easy to modify one of the diaphragms by simply changing the corresponding small plate 2.

In the form of execution of Fig. 2, the strip I is of any suitable kind and may be opaque. It comprises at the desired locations large sized holes 5 which are closed by small plates or covers 2 of the type illustrated in Fig. 1, i. e. provided with holes of diiierent diameters l, the holes 5 of the strips I having obviously a diameter at least equal to that of the largest holes 4.

The form of execution illustrated in Fig. 3 includes a strip I similar to that 01. Fig. 1; on the contrary the opaque plates 2 are provided with holes 4, 4', 4", all identical as to size, but provided with neutral screens of variable density bringing down the light passing through each of them to the desired intensity. Referring to the form of execution of Fig. 4, it consists in a strip which may be opaque and is provided at the desired locations with holes 5 having a large diameter, and in small plates 2 of the type described with reference to Fig. 3, i. e. provided with identical holes adapted to be covered by neutral screens having various densities l, l, 4".

It is also possible to use, in the case of Figs. 3 and 4, plates 2 adapted to form themselves neutral or colored screens.

Finally as disclosed at the beginning of the present specification, it is possible for certain particular applications to add colored screens to any one of the devices which have just been described.

It may be of interest to apply a reference number to each diaphragm corresponding ,ior instance to an opening of determined diameter so as to make it easier to find the light which it is desired to use.

What I claim is:

1. A diaphragm strip for fllm printing comprising a flexible perforated strip element provided with light transmitting portions distributed throughout at least part of the length there-- of andremovable plates provided with apertures of varied size and comprising teeth engaging the perforations oi the flexible strip element and folded on the opposite face of said element, said plates being removably secured to the strip element in such a way that said apertures cooperate with the light transmitting portions of said flexible strip element to vary the printing light.

2. A diaphragm strip for film printing comprising a flexible strip element formed of opaque material and provided at intervals with apertures and small opaque and removable plates provided with aperturesoi varied size, the dimensions of the apertures 01 the plates being at most equal to the apertures of the strip and removably secured to the strip in such a way that the apertures of the plates cooperate with the apertures of the flexible strip to Wat.

ANDRE VICTOR N CLEMENT DEBBIE.

cns mm The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,159,650 Crabb Nov. 9, 1915 1,205,582 Tessier Nov. 11, 1916 1,497,110 Marette June 10, 1924 1,676,600 Capstafl July 10, 1928 1,725,944 Thompson Aug. 27, 1929 1,817,977 Favour Aug. 11, 1931 1,914,726 Mercer June 20, 1933 2,087,289 Mercer July 20, 1937 2,117,727 Jones May 17, 1938 2,252,632 Jones Aug. 12, 1941 

